MamaSheepdog
Well-known member
I sold some Rex to a fellow from Arizona last year, and he arranged to buy another buck from me this year coinciding with his return from his annual trip to visit his inlaws.
He wants to add dilutes to his program, and had decided on a lilac buck. Out of my litter of 6 lilacs, I had two bucks.
He called me this morning at 7 a.m. to let me know they were on the road, so I grabbed another cup of coffee, and headed out to get his buck tattooed. We-e-ll, what do I find, but a perfectly content looking bunny who is dragging his hindquarters. He was fine yesterday, but somehow must have broken his back.
The other buck was a bit smaller, but still nice. So I took him out, stuffed him into my tattoo sock, and proceeded to mark his ear. The last letter needed a little final touch-up to make it nice and dark, and as I am doing so, the little guy started to scream and struggle. I quickly removed him from the sock, only to find- you guessed it- he too had broken his back.
I have never, EVER, had a rabbit break its back while being tattooed. The only thing I can think is that I did not secure the sock with a binder clip as usual, so he must have had too much freedom of movement.
I called with this distressing news, and he decided to look at my opals and broken opals instead. Not wanting to chance yet another catastrophe, I asked if it would be okay if I skipped tattooing them. That was fine- he agreed do it himself at a later date.
When I went to print up the pedigrees, there were a couple weights missing, so back out I went to get the weights off of the cage cards. Back inside to enter them. Only to find out our printer is out of ink. :angry:
We had arranged to meet at the freeway so he could keep peace with his wife who was not keen on adding another 50 miles to their trip. I loaded up an opal and two broken opals for him to choose from, as well as their sire Fergus so we could have a little lesson on conformation. I also picked the second largest lilac doe out of her litter, and brought her along as well.
On the way to the freeway, I got stuck behind a pickup truck that was crawling along at 30mph. When I finally reached an area to pass, I blasted on past it. Only a mile or so further is the first of two train tracks that need to be crossed, and lo and behold- an incredibly long train just about to cross the road. :evil: If I had gone around that truck just 30 seconds sooner, I would have beat the train, but it was not to be.
I finally arrived at our meeting spot, and fortunately they had only been there a few minutes themselves. Their three young children were happily playing atop the huge mound of rocks destined for the creek that meanders through our canyon.
I had brought my stand and grooming box (Groom-n-Go... gotta love it!) so we set up all the bunnies and evaluated them together. He ended up choosing a cute little broken opal, and I gave him the lilac doe so his program wouldn't be set back too far. His "breeding buddy" has a chocolate otter buck, and they are interested in getting chocolates and lilacs.
Hopefully next year he will bring me a chocolate or lilac otter out of her in trade.
I missed breakfast, and am famished, so I have been eating my lunch while I type this. As soon as I am done, I have to go out and dispatch those poor little bucks.
I guess we'll be having fried rabbit next week. :dinner:
He wants to add dilutes to his program, and had decided on a lilac buck. Out of my litter of 6 lilacs, I had two bucks.
He called me this morning at 7 a.m. to let me know they were on the road, so I grabbed another cup of coffee, and headed out to get his buck tattooed. We-e-ll, what do I find, but a perfectly content looking bunny who is dragging his hindquarters. He was fine yesterday, but somehow must have broken his back.
The other buck was a bit smaller, but still nice. So I took him out, stuffed him into my tattoo sock, and proceeded to mark his ear. The last letter needed a little final touch-up to make it nice and dark, and as I am doing so, the little guy started to scream and struggle. I quickly removed him from the sock, only to find- you guessed it- he too had broken his back.
I have never, EVER, had a rabbit break its back while being tattooed. The only thing I can think is that I did not secure the sock with a binder clip as usual, so he must have had too much freedom of movement.
I called with this distressing news, and he decided to look at my opals and broken opals instead. Not wanting to chance yet another catastrophe, I asked if it would be okay if I skipped tattooing them. That was fine- he agreed do it himself at a later date.
When I went to print up the pedigrees, there were a couple weights missing, so back out I went to get the weights off of the cage cards. Back inside to enter them. Only to find out our printer is out of ink. :angry:
We had arranged to meet at the freeway so he could keep peace with his wife who was not keen on adding another 50 miles to their trip. I loaded up an opal and two broken opals for him to choose from, as well as their sire Fergus so we could have a little lesson on conformation. I also picked the second largest lilac doe out of her litter, and brought her along as well.
On the way to the freeway, I got stuck behind a pickup truck that was crawling along at 30mph. When I finally reached an area to pass, I blasted on past it. Only a mile or so further is the first of two train tracks that need to be crossed, and lo and behold- an incredibly long train just about to cross the road. :evil: If I had gone around that truck just 30 seconds sooner, I would have beat the train, but it was not to be.
I finally arrived at our meeting spot, and fortunately they had only been there a few minutes themselves. Their three young children were happily playing atop the huge mound of rocks destined for the creek that meanders through our canyon.
I had brought my stand and grooming box (Groom-n-Go... gotta love it!) so we set up all the bunnies and evaluated them together. He ended up choosing a cute little broken opal, and I gave him the lilac doe so his program wouldn't be set back too far. His "breeding buddy" has a chocolate otter buck, and they are interested in getting chocolates and lilacs.
Hopefully next year he will bring me a chocolate or lilac otter out of her in trade.
I missed breakfast, and am famished, so I have been eating my lunch while I type this. As soon as I am done, I have to go out and dispatch those poor little bucks.
I guess we'll be having fried rabbit next week. :dinner:
